Trump's reflecting pool saga: Algae, peeling paint and finger-pointing | ABC NEWS

US President Donald Trump has blamed vandals for damaging the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool, as his multi-million-dollar renovation project faces sharp criticism. Recently added paint coating began to peel off at the base of the pool after staff used chemicals to combat an algal bloom in the national memorial monument. The renovation woes are an unwelcome distraction for the White House from efforts to secure peace in the Middle East and regain public trust. Subscribe: http://ab.co/1svxLVE Read more here: https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-06-23/washington-reflecting-pool-to-be-drained-again-after-renovations/106830116 Note: In most cases, our captions are auto-generated. #ABCNEWS #ABCNEWSAustralia #abcnewschannel